Peter Mitchell – författare

The Native American on a horse is an archetypal Hollywood image, but though such equestrian-focused societies were a relatively short-lived consequence of European expansion overseas, they were not restricted to North America's Plains. Horse Nations provides the first wide-ranging and up-to-date synthesis of the impact of the horse on the Indigenous societies of North and South America, southern Africa, and Australasia following its introduction as a result of European contact post-1492. Drawing on sources in a variety of languages and on the evidence of archaeology, anthropology, and history, the volume outlines the transformations that the acquisition of the horse wrought on a diverse range of groups within these four continents. It explores key topics such as changes in subsistence, technology, and belief systems, the horse's role in facilitating the emergence of more hierarchical social formations, and the interplay between ecology, climate, and human action in adopting the horse, as well as considering how far equestrian lifestyles were ultimately unsustainable.

Donkeys carried Christ into Jerusalem while in Greek myth they transported Hephaistos up to Mount Olympos and Dionysos into battle against the Giants. They were probably the first animals that people ever rode, as well as the first used on a large-scale as beasts of burden. Associated with kingship and the gods in the ancient Near East, they have been (and in many places still are) a core technology for moving people and goods over both short and long distances, as well as a supplier of muscle power for threshing and grinding grain, pressing olives, raising water, ploughing fields, and pulling carts, to name just a few of the uses to which they have been put.Yet despite this, they remain one of the least studied, and most widely ignored, of all domestic animals, consigned to the margins of history like so many of those who still depend upon them. Spanning the globe and extending from the donkey's initial domestication up to the present, this book seeks to remedy this situation by using archaeological evidence, in combination with insights from history and anthropology, to resituate the donkey (and its hybrid offspring such as the mule) in the unfolding of human history, looking not just at what donkeys and mules did, but also at how people have thought about and understood them. Intended in part for university researchers and students working in the broad fields of world history, archaeology, animal history, and anthropology, but it should also interest anyone keen to learn more about one of the most widespread and important of the animals that people have domesticated.

Africa has the longest and arguably the most diverse archaeological record of any of the continents. It is where the human lineage first evolved and from where Homo sapiens spread across the rest of the world. Later, it witnessed novel experiments in food-production and unique trajectories to urbanism and the organisation of large communities that were not always structured along strictly hierarchical lines. Millennia of engagement with societies in other parts of the world confirm Africa's active participation in the construction of the modern world, while the richness of its history, ethnography, and linguistics provide unusually powerful opportunities for constructing interdisciplinary narratives of Africa's past. This Handbook provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of African archaeology, covering the entirety of the continent's past from the beginnings of human evolution to the archaeological legacy of European colonialism. As well as covering almost all periods and regions of the continent, it includes a mixture of key methodological and theoretical issues and debates, and situates the subject's contemporary practice within the discipline's history and the infrastructural challenges now facing its practitioners. Bringing together essays on all these themes from over seventy contributors, many of them living and working in Africa, it offers a highly accessible, contemporary account of the subject for use by scholars and students of not only archaeology, but also history, anthropology, and other disciplines.

Africa has the longest record - some 2.5 million years - of human occupation of any continent. For nearly all of this time, its inhabitants have made tools from stone and have acquired their food from its rich wild plant and animal resources. Archaeological research in Africa is crucial for understanding the origins of humans and the diversity of hunter-gatherer ways of life. This book is a synthesis of the record left by Africa's earliest hominin inhabitants and hunter-gatherers, combining the insights of archaeology with those of other disciplines, such as genetics and palaeo-environmental science. African evidence is critical to important debates, such as the origins of stone tool making, the emergence of recognisably modern forms of cognition and behaviour, and the expansion of successive hominins from Africa to other parts of the world.

Some of the earliest human populations lived in Southern Africa, and evidence from sites there has inspired key debates on human origins and on the emergence of modern humans. The sub-continent has one of the world's richest heritages of rock art, and specialists have developed innovative theories about its meaning and significance that have influenced the understanding of rock art everywhere. Passionate arguments about the hunter-gatherer way of life have centred on Southern African cases, and the relationship between archaeological and anthropological data is also central to understanding the past of Southern Africa's pastoralist and farmer communities. The pre-colonial states of the region provide some of the best documented cases of the influence of external trade on the development of African polities. This book is a comprehensive modern synthesis of the sub-continent's archaeology. It offers a thorough-going overview of three million years of Southern African history.

Africa has the longest record - some 2.5 million years - of human occupation of any continent. For nearly all of this time, its inhabitants have made tools from stone and have acquired their food from its rich wild plant and animal resources. Archaeological research in Africa is crucial for understanding the origins of humans and the diversity of hunter-gatherer ways of life. This book is a synthesis of the record left by Africa's earliest hominin inhabitants and hunter-gatherers, combining the insights of archaeology with those of other disciplines, such as genetics and palaeo-environmental science. African evidence is critical to important debates, such as the origins of stone tool making, the emergence of recognisably modern forms of cognition and behaviour, and the expansion of successive hominins from Africa to other parts of the world.

From the exodus of early modern humans to the growth of African diasporas, Africa has had a long and complex relationship with the outside world. More than a passive vessel manipulated by external empires, the African experience has been a complex mix of internal geographic, environmental, sociopolitical and economic factors, and regular interaction with outsiders. Peter Mitchell attempts to outline these factors over the long period of modern human history, to find their commonalities and development over time. He examines African interconnections through Egypt and Nubia with the Near East, through multiple Indian Ocean trading systems, through the trans-Saharan trade, and through more recent incursion of Europeans. The African diaspora is also explored for continuities and resistance to foreign domination. Commonalities abound in the African experience, as do complexities of each individual period and interrelationship. MitchellOs sweeping analysis of African connections place the continent in context of global prehistory and history. The book should be of interest not only to Africanists, but to many other archaeologists, historians, geographers, linguists, social scientists and their students.

A major feature of human intelligence is that it allows us to contemplate mental life. Such an understanding is vital in enabling us to function effectively in social groups. This book examines the origins of this aspect of human intelligence.The five sections attempt firstly, to place human development within an evolutionary context, focusing on the possibility of innate components of understanding. The second aim of the book is to examine the roles of early perception, pretence and communication as precursor skills in the development of a grasp of mental states. Thirdly, attention is given to the possibility that children know a good deal more about the mind than is apparent from many studies designed to probe their abilities. Taken together, the chapters in this book mark a new focus within a 'theory of mind' movement, examining a group of skills in infancy and early childhood which culminate towards the end of the preschool period in a more mature understanding of one's and others' mental states. Drawing together researchers from diverse theoretical positions, the aim is to work towards a coherent and unified account of this fundamental human abiity. This book will be of central relevance to psychologists and those in related disciplines, particularly education and philosophy.

It seems the mind has evolved into such a powerful form that we are able to go beyond knowing the world and move towards knowing the mind itself. Being able to comprehend the mind permits smooth social interaction, since it allows us to anticipate the future actions of those around us. The apparently effortless quality of social co-ordination belies the complex process of conceptualization and inference that is actually at work. The odyssey of childhood, especially in the early years, presents a topic for investigation and speculation. A purpose of this book is to provide a thoroughly readable in-depth review of recent findings and theories about the development of understanding mind. In preparing this, a major goal was seen as composing text that is appealing in itself as a piece of writing. This book covers development from infancy to adulthood, and also considers related disorders of development especially autism. It goes beyond the narrow focus on the preschool years typical of most writings on the topic. One of the main themes in the book concerns the role of language and communication in development. Language could serve as a tool that helps the child to think more in the abstract and the hypothetical, once removed from reality. Being able to communicate with language virtually means that we are able to hear the thoughts of those around us. We hear what they think from what they say. Communication could thus provide a major catalyst in promoting the development of an understanding of mind. Perhaps it is no coincidence that children with autism who supposedly have an impaired understanding of mind also have impairments in language and communication.

This fresh and dynamic book offers a thorough investigation into the development of the cognitive processes that underpin judgements about mental states (often termed 'theory of mind') and addresses specific issues that have not been adequately dealt with in the past, and which are now being raised by some of the most prominent researchers in the field.

Some of humanity's earliest ancestors lived in southern Africa and evidence from sites there has inspired key debates on human origins and the emergence of complex cognition. Building on its rich rock art heritage, archaeologists have developed theoretical work that continues to influence rock art studies worldwide, with the relationship between archaeological and anthropological data central to understanding past hunter-gatherer, pastoralist, and farmer communities alike. New work on pre-colonial states contests models that previously explained their emergence via external trade, while the transformations wrought by European colonialism are being rewritten to emphasise Indigenous agency, feeding into efforts to decolonise the discipline itself. Inhabited by humans longer than almost anywhere else and with an unusually varied, complex past, southern Africa thus has much to contribute to archaeology worldwide. In this revised and updated edition, Peter Mitchell provides a comprehensive and extensively illustrated synthesis of its archaeology over more than three million years.

Some of humanity's earliest ancestors lived in southern Africa and evidence from sites there has inspired key debates on human origins and the emergence of complex cognition. Building on its rich rock art heritage, archaeologists have developed theoretical work that continues to influence rock art studies worldwide, with the relationship between archaeological and anthropological data central to understanding past hunter-gatherer, pastoralist, and farmer communities alike. New work on pre-colonial states contests models that previously explained their emergence via external trade, while the transformations wrought by European colonialism are being rewritten to emphasise Indigenous agency, feeding into efforts to decolonise the discipline itself. Inhabited by humans longer than almost anywhere else and with an unusually varied, complex past, southern Africa thus has much to contribute to archaeology worldwide. In this revised and updated edition, Peter Mitchell provides a comprehensive and extensively illustrated synthesis of its archaeology over more than three million years.

African Islands provides the first geographically and chronologically comprehensive overview of the archaeology of African islands. This book draws archaeologically informed histories of African islands into a single synthesis, focused on multiple issues of common interest, among them human impacts on previously uninhabited ecologies, the role of islands in the growth of long-distance maritime trade networks, and the functioning of plantation economies based on the exploitation of unfree labour. Addressing and repairing the longstanding neglect of Africa in general studies of island colonization, settlement, and connectivity, it makes a distinctively African contribution to studies of island archaeology. The availability of this much-needed synthesis also opens up a better understanding of the significance of African islands in the continent's past as a whole. After contextualizing chapters on island archaeology as a field and an introduction to the variety of Africa’s islands and the archaeological research undertaken on them, the book focuses on four themes: arriving, altering, being, and colonizing and resisting. An interdisciplinary approach is taken to these themes, drawing on a broad range of evidence that goes beyond material remains to include genetics, comparative studies of the languages, textual evidence and oral histories, island ecologies, and more. African Islands provides an up-to-date synthesis and account of all aspects of archaeological research on Africa’s islands for students and academics alike.

African Islands provides the first geographically and chronologically comprehensive overview of the archaeology of African islands. This book draws archaeologically informed histories of African islands into a single synthesis, focused on multiple issues of common interest, among them human impacts on previously uninhabited ecologies, the role of islands in the growth of long-distance maritime trade networks, and the functioning of plantation economies based on the exploitation of unfree labour. Addressing and repairing the longstanding neglect of Africa in general studies of island colonization, settlement, and connectivity, it makes a distinctively African contribution to studies of island archaeology. The availability of this much-needed synthesis also opens up a better understanding of the significance of African islands in the continent's past as a whole. After contextualizing chapters on island archaeology as a field and an introduction to the variety of Africa’s islands and the archaeological research undertaken on them, the book focuses on four themes: arriving, altering, being, and colonizing and resisting. An interdisciplinary approach is taken to these themes, drawing on a broad range of evidence that goes beyond material remains to include genetics, comparative studies of the languages, textual evidence and oral histories, island ecologies, and more. African Islands provides an up-to-date synthesis and account of all aspects of archaeological research on Africa’s islands for students and academics alike.

First Dogs provides the first comprehensive overview of the relationships between humanity’s best friend (and oldest domestic animal) and hunter-gatherers.The book uses archaeological and anthropological evidence to explore the hunter-gatherer/canine relationship from the beginnings of the domestication process to the present. As well as looking at conventional case-studies from the Global North, it also uses examples from Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The result is an understanding of how hunter-gatherers have lived with dogs that is novel in its thematic reach, its temporal span, and its global range. Having situated previous work on dogs and hunter-gatherers within the broader fields of archaeology and anthropology, the book first explores how, when, and where grey wolves became dogs before tracing their dispersal beyond Eurasia into North America, the tropics, and beyond. Four thematic chapters then consider their roles as hunting aids and transport technologies, as well as how they have been fed, cared for, and thought about by hunter-gatherer populations worldwide. A further chapter explores the canine dimension of European colonialism’s impacts on Indigenous peoples since 1492. The emphasis throughout is strongly interdisciplinary, drawing not only on archaeology and anthropology, but also on work in genetics, history, ecology, and linguistics.First Dogs offers an up-to-date account of all aspects of the relationship between hunter-gatherers and their canine companions aimed at academic and non-academic audiences alike.

First Dogs provides the first comprehensive overview of the relationships between humanity’s best friend (and oldest domestic animal) and hunter-gatherers.The book uses archaeological and anthropological evidence to explore the hunter-gatherer/canine relationship from the beginnings of the domestication process to the present. As well as looking at conventional case-studies from the Global North, it also uses examples from Latin America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The result is an understanding of how hunter-gatherers have lived with dogs that is novel in its thematic reach, its temporal span, and its global range. Having situated previous work on dogs and hunter-gatherers within the broader fields of archaeology and anthropology, the book first explores how, when, and where grey wolves became dogs before tracing their dispersal beyond Eurasia into North America, the tropics, and beyond. Four thematic chapters then consider their roles as hunting aids and transport technologies, as well as how they have been fed, cared for, and thought about by hunter-gatherer populations worldwide. A further chapter explores the canine dimension of European colonialism’s impacts on Indigenous peoples since 1492. The emphasis throughout is strongly interdisciplinary, drawing not only on archaeology and anthropology, but also on work in genetics, history, ecology, and linguistics.First Dogs offers an up-to-date account of all aspects of the relationship between hunter-gatherers and their canine companions aimed at academic and non-academic audiences alike.

Ruling the World tells the story of how the largest and most diverse empire in history was governed, everywhere and all at once. Focusing on some of the most tumultuous years of Queen Victoria's reign, Alan Lester, Kate Boehme and Peter Mitchell adopt an entirely new perspective to explain how the men in charge of the British Empire sought to manage simultaneous events across the globe. Using case studies including Canada, South Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, India and Afghanistan, they reveal how the empire represented a complex series of trade-offs between Parliament's, colonial governors', colonists' and colonised peoples' agendas. They also highlight the compromises that these men made as they adapted their ideals of freedom, civilization and liberalism to the realities of an empire imposed through violence and governed in the interests of Britons.

Ruling the World tells the story of how the largest and most diverse empire in history was governed, everywhere and all at once. Focusing on some of the most tumultuous years of Queen Victoria's reign, Alan Lester, Kate Boehme and Peter Mitchell adopt an entirely new perspective to explain how the men in charge of the British Empire sought to manage simultaneous events across the globe. Using case studies including Canada, South Africa, the Caribbean, Australia, India and Afghanistan, they reveal how the empire represented a complex series of trade-offs between Parliament's, colonial governors', colonists' and colonised peoples' agendas. They also highlight the compromises that these men made as they adapted their ideals of freedom, civilization and liberalism to the realities of an empire imposed through violence and governed in the interests of Britons.

Nearly 20 years after the first edition captivated readers, Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology returns in its third edition, offering a thoroughly updated and enriched exploration of developmental psychology. Building on the success of previous editions, this new version reflects the latest discoveries and evolving perspectives in the field, while maintaining the clarity, accessibility, and engaging style that have made it a favourite among students and instructors alike.New chapters on ‘Prenatal Development,’ ‘Development in Adolescence,’ and ‘Development of Self’ expand the book’s scope, while integrated examples of atypical development and global perspectives reflect the diversity of developmental trajectories and the growing emphasis on decolonizing the curriculum. The book continues to balance cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, while emphasizing the importance of theory in explaining developmental changes, going beyond mere description to uncover the mechanisms that drive growth and change. Designed with pedagogy at its core, this edition is packed with features to support learning and engagement. Bolded key terms, chapter aims, stop and think boxes, chapter summaries, example essay questions, and further reading are included to support learning and engagement, alongside a complete glossary for clarity.Perfect for introductory courses, this third edition provides a comprehensive yet concise introduction to developmental psychology. With its engaging content, full-colour illustrations, and student-friendly organisation, it inspires curiosity and critical thinking while equipping readers with the tools to explore the complexities of developmental psychology and the fascinating journey of human growth and change.Accompanied by support materials, instructors can access lecture slides summarising key content with diagrams from the book, a test bank of multiple-choice questions for assessment, and an online glossary for easy download. A letter to instructors also provides guidance on using the text and highlights major updates from the previous edition.

Nearly 20 years after the first edition captivated readers, Fundamentals of Developmental Psychology returns in its third edition, offering a thoroughly updated and enriched exploration of developmental psychology. Building on the success of previous editions, this new version reflects the latest discoveries and evolving perspectives in the field, while maintaining the clarity, accessibility, and engaging style that have made it a favourite among students and instructors alike.New chapters on ‘Prenatal Development,’ ‘Development in Adolescence,’ and ‘Development of Self’ expand the book’s scope, while integrated examples of atypical development and global perspectives reflect the diversity of developmental trajectories and the growing emphasis on decolonizing the curriculum. The book continues to balance cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development, while emphasizing the importance of theory in explaining developmental changes, going beyond mere description to uncover the mechanisms that drive growth and change. Designed with pedagogy at its core, this edition is packed with features to support learning and engagement. Bolded key terms, chapter aims, stop and think boxes, chapter summaries, example essay questions, and further reading are included to support learning and engagement, alongside a complete glossary for clarity.Perfect for introductory courses, this third edition provides a comprehensive yet concise introduction to developmental psychology. With its engaging content, full-colour illustrations, and student-friendly organisation, it inspires curiosity and critical thinking while equipping readers with the tools to explore the complexities of developmental psychology and the fascinating journey of human growth and change.Accompanied by support materials, instructors can access lecture slides summarising key content with diagrams from the book, a test bank of multiple-choice questions for assessment, and an online glossary for easy download. A letter to instructors also provides guidance on using the text and highlights major updates from the previous edition.

A strong emotional attachment to the memory of empire runs deep in British culture. In recent years, that memory has become a battleground in a long-drawn ideological war, inflecting debates on race, class, gender, culture, the UK’s future and its place in the world. This provocative and passionate book surveys the scene of the imperial memory wars in contemporary Britain, exploring how the myths that structure our views of empire came to be, and how they inform the present. Taking in such diverse subjects as Rory Stewart and inter-war adventure fiction, man’s facial hair and Kipling, the Alt-right and the Red Wall, Imperial Nostalgia asks how our relationship with our national past has gone wrong, and how it might be improved.

A strong emotional attachment to the memory of empire runs deep in British culture. In recent years, that memory has become a battleground in a long-drawn ideological war, inflecting debates on race, class, gender, culture, the UK’s future and its place in the world. This provocative and passionate book surveys the scene of the imperial memory wars in contemporary Britain, exploring how the myths that structure our views of empire came to be, and how they inform the present. Taking in such diverse subjects as Rory Stewart and inter-war adventure fiction, man’s facial hair and Kipling, the Alt-right and the Red Wall, Imperial Nostalgia asks how our relationship with our national past has gone wrong, and how it might be improved.

Full-cast adaptations of Callan stories originally published in the Sunday Express. Adapted from series creator James Mitchell's Sunday Express Short Stories by his son Peter Mitchell, four new adventures will expand the themes explored in the television show. Murder, betrayal and model soldiers. It's all in a day's work for Callan. 1.1 File on a Deadly Deadshot by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell). With Lonely posing as his gentleman's gentleman, the section's top operative David Callan is sent to a country estate in Northumberland to infiltrate a rich men's shooting party. One of his companions is an assassin but which one? High living and high stakes on the grouse moors as Callan attempts to work out which of the dead-shots is a man-hunter.1.2 File on a Classy Club by James Mitchell. (adapted by Peter Mitchell). Callan finds the odds are stacked against him when he poses as a high roller at London's top casino. His mission is to lose all his money but he almost loses his life when he stumbles into an East German spy cell. Perhaps a card sharp from Lonely's past can help Callan turn the tables. 1.3 File on an Awesome Amateur by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell). Callan and Meres are despatched to a cultural festival in Venice to snatch a Russian poet from under the noses of the KGB. But the success of the mission depends upon the expertise of amateur sleuth and keen ornithologist Cynthia Widgery. Feathers fly on the Grand Canal...1.4 File on a Harassed Hunter by James Mitchell (adapted by Peter Mitchell). Callan is drawn into a dark secret when Hunter invites him to fly to Newcastle for a trip to the theatre. The plot thickens when an alcoholic actor and a decoy called Prenderghast lead Callan to one of the KGB's most proficient killers. The setting for the denouement is far too close for comfort.The classic television series from the Sixties returns with a star-studded cast, in brand new audio adaptations from Big Finish Productions. Originally broadcast in 1967,Callan took the burgeoning world of spy drama, and brought a much darker tone to the genre. Having similar responsibilities to MI5, Callan used the most ruthless and lethal techniques to get the job done, each method meticulously filed by `The Section' (the organisation behind operative Callan), colour coding each lethal tactic. Four series of the original television series were produced between 1967 and 1972, plus a cinema film released in 1974 and a TV comeback in 1981. And now, Callan is set to return on audio at Big Finish adapted from series creator James Mitchell's Telegraph Short Stories by his son Peter Mitchell. CAST: Ben Miles (Callan), Frank Skinner (Lonely),Nicholas Briggs (Hunter), Jane Slavin (Liz), David Rintoul (Baumer), Justin Avoth (Endicott), Glen McReady (Minns), Louis Tamone (Lorimer / Waiter), Tam Williams (Toby Meres), Mark Elstob (Karl / Judd / Willis), Robert Portal (Bulky Berkeley / Lubov), Annabelle Dowler (Amparo Soller / Barbara Jackson), Gyuri Sarossy (Marty Rivers), Beth Goddard (Cynthia Widgery / Auntie Gertie / Adrienn),Teddy Kempner (Evan Lang / Joe 'Plastic' MacNamara), Leighton Pugh (Petrov).

This new edition of the highly successful Fundamentals of Development: The Psychology of Childhood has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the exciting new findings in the thriving area of developmental psychology. The book addresses a number of fascinating questions including:Are children born good or bad?What do children understand about the mind?What roles do nature and nurture play in child development?As in the previous edition, the book follows a thematic approach and outlines the main areas of developmental psychology, including classic theories and studies, and offers a broad overview of contemporary research in the field. Each chapter addresses a key topic – such as theory of mind, attachment, and moral development - and is self-contained and comprehensive in its coverage. New chapters in this edition include a detailed look at methods in developmental psychology, an overview of developmental disorders, and an introduction to the burgeoning area of numerical development.The book is student-friendly, with all topics described in straightforward language, illustrated in full colour, and organized as standalone chapters. The text will make an excellent companion to introductory courses on developmental psychology, and for instructors there are high-quality lecture slides, and a bank of multiple choice questions. The text is written to be both accessible and comprehensive, and to provide an engaging overview for students and professionals who have little or no background in this area.

This new edition of the highly successful Fundamentals of Development: The Psychology of Childhood has been thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the exciting new findings in the thriving area of developmental psychology. The book addresses a number of fascinating questions including:Are children born good or bad?What do children understand about the mind?What roles do nature and nurture play in child development?As in the previous edition, the book follows a thematic approach and outlines the main areas of developmental psychology, including classic theories and studies, and offers a broad overview of contemporary research in the field. Each chapter addresses a key topic – such as theory of mind, attachment, and moral development - and is self-contained and comprehensive in its coverage. New chapters in this edition include a detailed look at methods in developmental psychology, an overview of developmental disorders, and an introduction to the burgeoning area of numerical development.The book is student-friendly, with all topics described in straightforward language, illustrated in full colour, and organized as standalone chapters. The text will make an excellent companion to introductory courses on developmental psychology, and for instructors there are high-quality lecture slides, and a bank of multiple choice questions. The text is written to be both accessible and comprehensive, and to provide an engaging overview for students and professionals who have little or no background in this area.